Dual screen application  visual  indicator

ABSTRACT

A dual-screen user device and methods for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens are disclosed. A determined number of desktops and/or running applications can be selectively displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be selectively shifted between the screens by user gestures, and can be moved off of the screens by other user gestures and therefore hidden. The hidden desktops and screens however can be re-displayed by yet another gesture. The desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order of the desktops and applications allowing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications/desktops running simultaneously. Visual indicators can be used on the displayed applications and desktops enabling a user to maximize a display on multiple screens or to minimize them on a single selected screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefits of and priority, under 35U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/389,000,filed Oct. 1, 2010, entitled “DUAL DISPLAY WINDOWING SYSTEM;”61/389,117, filed Oct. 1, 2010, entitled “MULTI-OPERATING SYSTEMPORTABLE DOCKETING DEVICE;” 61/389,087, filed Oct. 1, 2010, entitled“TABLET COMPUTING USER INTERFACE;”61/458,150, filed Nov. 17, 2010,entitled “Dual Screen Email Client;” 61/539,884, filed Sep. 27, 2011,entitled “MOBILE DEVICE.” Each of the aforementioned documents isincorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for all thatthey teach and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

A substantial number of handheld computing devices, such as cellularphones, tablets, and E-Readers, make use of a touch screen display notonly to deliver display information to the user but also to receiveinputs from user interface commands. While touch screen displays mayincrease the configurability of the handheld device and provide a widevariety of user interface options, this flexibility typically comes at aprice. The dual use of the touch screen to provide content and receiveuser commands, while flexible for the user, may obfuscate the displayand cause visual clutter, thereby leading to user frustration and lossof productivity.

The small form factor of handheld computing devices requires a carefulbalancing between the displayed graphics and the area provided forreceiving inputs. On the one hand, the small display constrains thedisplay space, which may increase the difficulty of interpreting actionsor results. On the other, a virtual keypad or other user interfacescheme is superimposed on or positioned adjacent to an executingapplication, requiring the application to be squeezed into an evensmaller portion of the display.

This balancing act is particularly difficult for single display touchscreen devices. Single display touch screen devices are crippled bytheir limited screen space. When users are entering information into thedevice, through the single display, the ability to interpret informationin the display can be severely hampered, particularly when a complexinteraction between display and interface is required.

SUMMARY

There is a need for a dual multi-display handheld computing device thatprovides for enhanced power and/or versatility compared to conventionalsingle display handheld computing devices. These and other needs areaddressed by the various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations ofthe present disclosure. Also, while the disclosure is presented in termsof exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that individualaspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed.

In one aspect of the invention according to one or more embodiments, itcan be described as a method of displaying a plurality of desktopsand/or applications, each having at least one window, on a multi-screendevice, comprising: (i) receiving a first input that represents aninstruction to reveal one of a desktop or application on a first screenof the multi-screen device; (ii) selecting a first desktop orapplication to display on the first screen; (iii) receiving a secondinput that represents an instruction to reveal one of a desktop orapplication on a second screen of the multi-screen device; (iv)selecting a second desktop or application to display on the secondscreen; (v) displaying the selected first and second desktops orapplications on the first and second screens; (vi) receiving a thirdinput that represents an instruction to maximize or minimize a selectedone of the first or second desktops or applications; and (vii)displaying the selected one of the first or second desktops orapplications in a maximized or minimized condition

In another aspect of the invention according to one or more embodiments,it can be described as a non-transitory computer-readable medium havingstored thereon instructions that cause a computing system to execute amethod, the instructions comprising: (i) instructions configured toreceive a first predetermined input that represents an instruction todetermine and reveal a first desktop or application on a first screen ofthe multi-screen device; (ii) instructions configured to receive asecond predetermined input that represents an instruction to determineand reveal a second desktop or application on a second screen of themulti-screen device; (iii) instructions configured to respond to thefirst and second predetermined inputs with outputs that cause the firstdesktop or application to be displayed on the first screen and cause thesecond desktop or application to be displayed on the second screen; (iv)instructions configured to receive a third predetermined input thatrepresents an instruction to maximize or minimize a selected one of thefirst or second desktops or applications; and (v) instructionsconfigured to respond to the third predetermined input that causesdisplaying of the selected one of the first or second desktops orapplications in a maximized or minimized condition.

In yet another aspect of the invention according to one or moreembodiments, it can be described as a multi-screen user device,comprising: (i) a first screen including a first display area; (ii) asecond screen including a second display area; (iii) a first user inputgesture area of the first screen; (iv) a second user input gesture areaof the second screen, wherein the first and second user input gestureareas are configured to accept input from a user (v) a computer-readablemedium having instructions stored thereon that include: (1) a first setof instructions configured to determine a number and identity ofdesktops or applications selected to be run by a user; (2) a second setof instructions configured to determine, based on the number andidentity of the desktops or applications running, a window stackcomprising a logical representation of the desktops and applicationswithin an ordered group whereby a user can selectively move a selecteddesktop or application within the window stack and to be displayed ineither the first or second screens; and (3) a third set of instructionsresponsive to a gesture made by the user to maximize or minimize aselected one of the first or second desktops or applications; andwherein the selected one of the first or second desktops or applicationsis displayed in a maximized or minimized condition.

The present disclosure can provide a number of advantages depending onthe particular aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Currently, theconsumer electronics industry is dominated by single-screen devices.Unfortunately, these devices are limited in the manner in which they canefficiently display information and receive user input. Specifically,multiple applications and desktops cannot be adequately shown on asingle screen and require the user to constantly switch betweendisplayed pages to access content from more than one application.Additionally, user input devices such as keyboards, touch-sensitive orcapacitive displays, and hardware interface buttons are usually reducedin size to fit onto a single-screen device. Manipulating this type ofdevice, and being forced to switch between multiple applications thatonly use one screen results in user fatigue, frustration, and in somecases repetitive motion injuries.

Recently, dual-screen devices have been made available to consumers ofelectronic devices. However, the currently available dual-screen deviceshave failed to adequately address the needs of the consumer. Althoughthe devices include two screens in their design, they tend toincorporate the negative limitations of their single-screencounterparts. In particular, the typical dual-screen device limits theuser interface to a particular screen, in some cases only providing akeyboard, or touch-sensitive/capacitive display, on one of the screens.Moreover, the management of the device's applications and desktops islimited to the traditional concepts of single-screen content switching.The present disclosure addresses the limitations of the traditionalsingle/dual-screen devices and provides advantages in display, input,and content management.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure describes amulti-screen device and methods for managing the display of content thatallows the user a greater degree of creative latitude when operating thedevice. In particular, when a device is running an application or groupof applications, the device is capable of detecting a user gesture inputthat can reveal a desktop on multiple screens of the device. Thisdesktop can show a representation of different applications that theuser can select. From this desktop, a user is able to launchapplications or navigate between multiple desktop pages, including thosethat are displayed and those that are not. A user, or the device itself,may choose how and when to initiate the reveal desktop expansion, whichmay be determined by, but not limited to, a specific input detected, anoutput from another process, program or hardware logic, softwarecontrol, or combination thereof. The management of the displayeddesktops may be directed by the device or the user. These and otheradvantages will be apparent from the disclosure.

The present disclosure can provide a number of advantages depending onthe particular aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. These and otheradvantages will be apparent from the disclosure.

The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-endedexpressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. Forexample, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at leastone of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B,or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. Assuch, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can beused interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms“comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers toany process or operation done without material human input when theprocess or operation is performed. However, a process or operation canbe automatic, even though performance of the process or operation usesmaterial or immaterial human input, if the input is received beforeperformance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to bematerial if such input influences how the process or operation will beperformed. Human input that consents to the performance of the processor operation is not deemed to be “material”.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to anytangible storage and/or transmission medium that participate inproviding instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium maytake many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media,volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, forexample, NVRAM, or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includesdynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readablemedia include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, aCD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, a solid state medium like a memory card, any other memorychip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read. A digital file attachment toe-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, itis to be understood that the database may be any type of database, suchas relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storagemedium or distribution medium and prior art-recognized equivalents andsuccessor media, in which the software implementations of the presentdisclosure are stored.

The term “desktop” refers to a metaphor used to portray systems. Adesktop is generally considered a “surface” that typically includespictures, called icons, widgets, folders, etc. that can activate showapplications, windows, cabinets, files, folders, documents, and othergraphical items. The icons are generally selectable to initiate a taskthrough user interface interaction to allow a user to executeapplications or conduct other operations.

The term “screen,” “touch screen,” or “touchscreen” refers to a physicalstructure that includes one or more hardware components that provide thedevice with the ability to render a user interface and/or receive userinput. A screen can encompass any combination of gesture capture region,a touch sensitive display, and/or a configurable area. The device canhave one or more physical screens embedded in the hardware. However ascreen may also include an external peripheral device that may beattached and detached from the device. In embodiments, multiple externaldevices may be attached to the device. Thus, in embodiments, the screencan enable the user to interact with the device by touching areas on thescreen and provides information to a user through a display. The touchscreen may sense user contact in a number of different ways, such as bya change in an electrical parameter (e.g., resistance or capacitance),acoustic wave variations, infrared radiation proximity detection, lightvariation detection, and the like. In a resistive touch screen, forexample, normally separated conductive and resistive metallic layers inthe screen pass an electrical current. When a user touches the screen,the two layers make contact in the contacted location, whereby a changein electrical field is noted and the coordinates of the contactedlocation calculated. In a capacitive touch screen, a capacitive layerstores electrical charge, which is discharged to the user upon contactwith the touch screen, causing a decrease in the charge of thecapacitive layer. The decrease is measured, and the contacted locationcoordinates determined. In a surface acoustic wave touch screen, anacoustic wave is transmitted through the screen, and the acoustic waveis disturbed by user contact. A receiving transducer detects the usercontact instance and determines the contacted location coordinates.

The term “display” refers to a portion of one or more screens used todisplay the output of a computer to a user. A display may be asingle-screen display or a multi-screen display, referred to as acomposite display. A composite display can encompass the touch sensitivedisplay of one or more screens. A single physical screen can includemultiple displays that are managed as separate logical displays. Thus,different content can be displayed on the separate displays althoughpart of the same physical screen.

The term “displayed image” refers to an image produced on the display. Atypical displayed image is a window or desktop. The displayed image mayoccupy all or a portion of the display.

The term “display orientation” refers to the way in which a rectangulardisplay is oriented by a user for viewing. The two most common types ofdisplay orientation are portrait and landscape. In landscape mode, thedisplay is oriented such that the width of the display is greater thanthe height of the display (such as a 4:3 ratio, which is 4 units wideand 3 units tall, or a 16:9 ratio, which is 16 units wide and 9 unitstall). Stated differently, the longer dimension of the display isoriented substantially horizontal in landscape mode while the shorterdimension of the display is oriented substantially vertical. In theportrait mode, by contrast, the display is oriented such that the widthof the display is less than the height of the display. Stateddifferently, the shorter dimension of the display is orientedsubstantially horizontal in the portrait mode while the longer dimensionof the display is oriented substantially vertical.

The term “composited display” refers to a logical structure that definesa display that can encompass one or more screens. A multi-screen displaycan be associated with a composite display that encompasses all thescreens. The composite display can have different displaycharacteristics based on the various orientations of the device.

The term “gesture” refers to a user action that expresses an intendedidea, action, meaning, result, and/or outcome. The user action caninclude manipulating a device (e.g., opening or closing a device,changing a device orientation, moving a trackball or wheel, etc.),movement of a body part in relation to the device, movement of animplement or tool in relation to the device, audio inputs, etc. Agesture may be made on a device (such as on the screen) or with thedevice to interact with the device.

The term “module” as used herein refers to any known or later developedhardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, orcombination of hardware and software that is capable of performing thefunctionality associated with that element.

The term “gesture capture” refers to a sense or otherwise a detection ofan instance and/or type of user gesture. The gesture capture can occurin one or more areas of the screen, A gesture region can be on thedisplay, where it may be referred to as a touch sensitive display or offthe display where it may be referred to as a gesture capture area.

A “multi-screen application” refers to an application that is capable ofmultiple modes. The multi-screen application mode can include, but isnot limited to, a single screen mode (where the application is displayedon a single screen) or a composite display mode (where the applicationis displayed on two or more screens). A multi-screen application canhave different layouts optimized for the mode. Thus, the multi-screenapplication can have different layouts for a single screen or for acomposite display that can encompass two or more screens. The differentlayouts may have different screen/display dimensions and/orconfigurations on which the user interfaces of the multi-screenapplications can be rendered. The different layouts allow theapplication to optimize the application's user interface for the type ofdisplay, e.g., single screen or multiple screens. In single screen mode,the multi-screen application may present one window pane of information.In a composite display mode, the multi-screen application may presentmultiple window panes of information or may provide a larger and aricher presentation because there is more space for the displaycontents. The multi-screen applications may be designed to adaptdynamically to changes in the device and the mode depending on whichdisplay (single or composite) the system assigns to the multi-screenapplication. In alternative embodiments, the user can use a gesture torequest the application transition to a different mode, and, if adisplay is available for the requested mode, the device can allow theapplication to move to that display and transition modes.

A “single-screen application” refers to an application that is capableof single screen mode. Thus, the single-screen application can produceonly one window and may not be capable of different modes or differentdisplay dimensions. A single-screen application is incapable of theseveral modes discussed with the multi-screen application.

The term “window” refers to a, typically rectangular, displayed image onat least part of a display that contains or provides content differentfrom the rest of the screen. The window may obscure the desktop.

The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variationsthereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any typeof methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

It shall be understood that the term “means” as used herein shall begiven its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C.,Section 112, Paragraph 6. Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term“means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein,and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materialsor acts and the equivalents thereof shall include all those described inthe summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings,detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.

The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide anunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neitheran extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its variousaspects, embodiments, and/or configurations. It is intended neither toidentify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate thescope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of thedisclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detaileddescription presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure are possibleutilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features setforth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A includes a first view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1B includes a second view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1C includes a third view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1D includes a fourth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1E includes a fifth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1F includes a sixth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1G includes a seventh view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1H includes a eighth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1I includes a ninth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 1J includes a tenth view of an embodiment of a multi-screen userdevice;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the hardware of thedevice;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the state model for thedevice based on the device's orientation and/or configuration;

FIG. 3B is a table of an embodiment of the state model for the devicebased on the device's orientation and/or configuration;

FIG. 4A is a first representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4B is a second representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4C is a third representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4D is a fourth representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4E is a fifth representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4F is a sixth representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4G is a seventh representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 4H is a eighth representation of an embodiment of user gesturereceived at a device;

FIG. 5A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device softwareand/or firmware;

FIG. 5B is a second block diagram of an embodiment of the devicesoftware and/or firmware;

FIG. 6A is a first representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6B is a second representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6C is a third representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6D is a fourth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6E is a fifth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6F is a sixth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6G is a seventh representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6H is a eighth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6I is a ninth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 6J is a tenth representation of an embodiment of a deviceconfiguration generated in response to the device state;

FIG. 7A is representation of a logical window stack;

FIG. 7B is another representation of an embodiment of a logical windowstack;

FIG. 7C is another representation of an embodiment of a logical windowstack;

FIG. 7D is another representation of an embodiment of a logical windowstack;

FIG. 7E is another representation of an embodiment of a logical windowstack;

FIG. 8 is block diagram of an embodiment of a logical data structure fora window stack;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for creating awindow stack;

FIG. 10A depicts a first display state of an open device with a visualindicator on the primary screen indicating the application displayed onthe primary screen can be maximized to also be shown in a larger viewacross both the primary and secondary screens,

FIG. 10B depicts a second display state of the open device of FIG. 10Ashowing a user gesture executed to maximize the application, and agraphical representation of the selected application expanding to occupyboth the primary and secondary screens in response to the user gesture;

FIG. 10C depicts a third display state of the open device of FIG. 10Ashowing the selected application maximized and therefore displayed onboth the primary and secondary screens;

FIG. 10D depicts a fourth display state of the open device of FIG. 10Ashowing the selected application maximized as in FIG. 10C, but alsoanother user gesture executed to minimize the application on thesecondary screen; and

FIG. 10E depicts a fifth display state of the open device of FIG. 10Ashowing the selected application minimized on the secondary screenthereby covering the previous application appearing on the secondaryscreen , and also revealing the next application or desktop in a windowstack on the primary screen.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a letter thatdistinguishes among the similar components. If only the first referencelabel is used in the specification, the description is applicable to anyone of the similar components having the same first reference labelirrespective of the second reference label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Presented herein are embodiments of a device. The device can be acommunications device, such as a cellular telephone, or other smartdevice. The device can include two screens that are oriented to provideseveral unique display configurations. Further, the device can receiveuser input in unique ways. The overall design and functionality of thedevice provides for an enhanced user experience making the device moreuseful and more efficient.

Mechanical Features:

FIGS. 1A-1J illustrate a device 100 in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure. As described in greater detail below, device 100can be positioned in a number of different ways each of which providesdifferent functionality to a user. The device 100 is a multi-screendevice that includes a primary screen 104 and a secondary screen 108,both of which are touch sensitive. In embodiments, the entire frontsurface of screens 104 and 108 may be touch sensitive and capable ofreceiving input by a user touching the front surface of the screens 104and 108. Primary screen 104 includes touch sensitive display 110, which,in addition to being touch sensitive, also displays information to auser. Secondary screen 108 includes touch sensitive display 114, whichalso displays information to a user. In other embodiments, screens 104and 108 may include more than one display area.

Primary screen 104 also includes a configurable area 112 that has beenconfigured for specific inputs when the user touches portions of theconfigurable area 112. Secondary screen 108 also includes a configurablearea 116 that has been configured for specific inputs. Areas 112 a and116 a have been configured to receive a “back” input indicating that auser would like to view information previously displayed. Areas 112 band 116 b have been configured to receive a “menu” input indicating thatthe user would like to view options from a menu. Areas 112 c and 116 chave been configured to receive a “home” input indicating that the userwould like to view information associated with a “home” view. In otherembodiments, areas 112 a-c and 116 a-c may be configured, in addition tothe configurations described above, for other types of specific inputsincluding controlling features of device 100, some non-limiting examplesincluding adjusting overall system power, adjusting the volume,adjusting the brightness, adjusting the vibration, selecting ofdisplayed items (on either of screen 104 or 108), operating a camera,operating a microphone, and initiating/terminating of telephone calls.Also, in some embodiments, areas 112 a-C and 116 a-C may be configuredfor specific inputs depending upon the application running on device 100and/or information displayed on touch sensitive displays 110 and/or 114.

In addition to touch sensing, primary screen 104 and secondary screen108 may also include areas that receive input from a user withoutrequiring the user to touch the display area of the screen. For example,primary screen 104 includes gesture capture area 120, and secondaryscreen 108 includes gesture capture area 124. These areas are able toreceive input by recognizing gestures made by a user without the needfor the user to actually touch the surface of the display area. Incomparison to touch sensitive displays 110 and 114, the gesture captureareas 120 and 124 are commonly not capable of rendering a displayedimage.

The two screens 104 and 108 are connected together with a hinge 128,shown clearly in FIG. 1C (illustrating a back view of device 100). Hinge128, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1J, is a center hinge thatconnects screens 104 and 108 so that when the hinge is closed, screens104 and 108 are juxtaposed (i.e., side-by-side) as shown in FIG. 1B(illustrating a front view of device 100). Hinge 128 can be opened toposition the two screens 104 and 108 in different relative positions toeach other. As described in greater detail below, the device 100 mayhave different functionalities depending on the relative positions ofscreens 104 and 108.

FIG. 1D illustrates the right side of device 100. As shown in FIG. 1D,secondary screen 108 also includes a card slot 132 and a port 136 on itsside. Card slot 132 in embodiments, accommodates different types ofcards including a subscriber identity module (SIM). Port 136 inembodiments is an input/output port (I/O port) that allows device 100 tobe connected to other peripheral devices, such as a display, keyboard,or printing device. As can be appreciated, these are merely someexamples and in other embodiments device 100 may include other slots andports such as slots and ports for accommodating additional memorydevices and/or for connecting other peripheral devices. Also shown inFIG. 1D is an audio jack 140 that accommodates a tip, ring, sleeve (TRS)connector for example to allow a user to utilize headphones or aheadset.

Device 100 also includes a number of buttons 158. For example, FIG. 1Eillustrates the left side of device 100. As shown in FIG. 1E, the sideof primary screen 104 includes three buttons 144, 148, and 152, whichcan be configured for specific inputs. For example, buttons 144, 148,and 152 may be configured to, in combination or alone, control a numberof aspects of device 100. Some non-limiting examples include overallsystem power, volume, brightness, vibration, selection of displayeditems (on either of screen 104 or 108), a camera, a microphone, andinitiation/termination of telephone calls. In some embodiments, insteadof separate buttons two buttons may be combined into a rocker button.This arrangement is useful in situations where the buttons areconfigured to control features such as volume or brightness. In additionto buttons 144, 148, and 152, device 100 also includes a button 156,shown in FIG. 1F, which illustrates the top of device 100. In oneembodiment, button 156 is configured as an on/off button used to controloverall system power to device 100. In other embodiments, button 156 isconfigured to, in addition to or in lieu of controlling system power,control other aspects of device 100. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe buttons 144, 148, 152, and 156 are capable of supporting differentuser commands. By way of example, a normal press has a duration commonlyof less than about 1 second and resembles a quick tap. A medium presshas a duration commonly of 1 second or more but less than about 12seconds. A long press has a duration commonly of about 12 seconds ormore. The function of the buttons is normally specific to theapplication that is currently in focus on the respective display 110 and114. In a telephone application for instance and depending on theparticular button, a normal, medium, or long press can mean end call,increase in call volume, decrease in call volume, and toggle microphonemute. In a camera or video application for instance and depending on theparticular button, a normal, medium, or long press can mean increasezoom, decrease zoom, and take photograph or record video.

There are also a number of hardware components within device 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 1C, device 100 includes a speaker 160 and amicrophone 164. Device 100 also includes a camera 168 (FIG. 1B).Additionally, device 100 includes two position sensors 172A and 172B,which are used to determine the relative positions of screens 104 and108. In one embodiment, position sensors 172A and 172B are Hall effectsensors. However, in other embodiments other sensors can be used inaddition to or in lieu of the Hall effect sensors. An accelerometer 176may also be included as part of device 100 to determine the orientationof the device 100 and/or the orientation of screens 104 and 108.Additional internal hardware components that may be included in device100 are described below with respect to FIG. 2.

The overall design of device 100 allows it to provide additionalfunctionality not available in other communication devices. Some of thefunctionality is based on the various positions and orientations thatdevice 100 can have. As shown in FIGS. 1B-1G, device 100 can be operatedin an “open” position where screens 104 and 108 are juxtaposed. Thisposition allows a large display area for displaying information to auser. When position sensors 172A and 172B determine that device 100 isin the open position, they can generate a signal that can be used totrigger different events such as displaying information on both screens104 and 108. Additional events may be triggered if accelerometer 176determines that device 100 is in a portrait position (FIG. 1B) asopposed to a landscape position (not shown).

In addition to the open position, device 100 may also have a “closed”position illustrated in FIG. 1H. Again, position sensors 172A and 172Bcan generate a signal indicating that device 100 is in the “closed”position. This can trigger an event that results in a change ofdisplayed information on screen 104 and/or 108. For example, device 100may be programmed to stop displaying information on one of the screens,e.g., screen 108, since a user can only view one screen at a time whendevice 100 is in the “closed” position. In other embodiments, the signalgenerated by position sensors 172A and 172B, indicating that the device100 is in the “closed” position, can trigger device 100 to answer anincoming telephone call. The “closed” position can also be a preferredposition for utilizing the device 100 as a mobile phone.

Device 100 can also be used in an “easel” position which is illustratedin FIG. 1I. In the “easel” position, screens 104 and 108 are angled withrespect to each other and facing outward with the edges of screens 104and 108 substantially horizontal. In this position, device 100 can beconfigured to display information on both screens 104 and 108 to allowtwo users to simultaneously interact with device 100. When device 100 isin the “easel” position, sensors 172A and 172B generate a signalindicating that the screens 104 and 108 are positioned at an angle toeach other, and the accelerometer 176 can generate a signal indicatingthat device 100 has been placed so that the edge of screens 104 and 108are substantially horizontal. The signals can then be used incombination to generate events that trigger changes in the display ofinformation on screens 104 and 108.

FIG. 1J illustrates device 100 in a “modified easel” position. In the“modified easel” position, one of screens 104 or 108 is used as a standand is faced down on the surface of an object such as a table. Thisposition provides a convenient way for information to be displayed to auser in landscape orientation. Similar to the easel position, whendevice 100 is in the “modified easel” position, position sensors 172Aand 172B generate a signal indicating that the screens 104 and 108 arepositioned at an angle to each other. The accelerometer 176 wouldgenerate a signal indicating that device 100 has been positioned so thatone of screens 104 and 108 is faced downwardly and is substantiallyhorizontal. The signals can then be used to generate events that triggerchanges in the display of information of screens 104 and 108. Forexample, information may not be displayed on the screen that is facedown since a user cannot see the screen.

Transitional states are also possible. When the position sensors 172Aand B and/or accelerometer indicate that the screens are being closed orfolded (from open), a closing transitional state is recognized.Conversely when the position sensors 172A and B indicate that thescreens are being opened or folded (from closed), an openingtransitional state is recognized. The closing and opening transitionalstates are typically time-based, or have a maximum time duration from asensed starting point. Normally, no user input is possible when one ofthe closing and opening states is in effect. In this manner, incidentaluser contact with a screen during the closing or opening function is notmisinterpreted as user input. In embodiments, another transitional stateis possible when the device 100 is closed. This additional transitionalstate allows the display to switch from one screen 104 to the secondscreen 108 when the device 100 is closed based on some user input, e.g.,a double tap on the screen 110,114.

As can be appreciated, the description of device 100 is made forillustrative purposes only, and the embodiments are not limited to thespecific mechanical features shown in FIGS. 1A-1J and described above.In other embodiments, device 100 may include additional features,including one or more additional buttons, slots, display areas, hinges,and/or locking mechanisms. Additionally, in embodiments, the featuresdescribed above may be located in different parts of device 100 andstill provide similar functionality. Therefore, FIGS. 1A-1J and thedescription provided above are nonlimiting.

Hardware Features:

FIG. 2 illustrates components of a device 100 in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. In general, the device 100includes a primary screen 104 and a secondary screen 108. While theprimary screen 104 and its components are normally enabled in both theopened and closed positions or states, the secondary screen 108 and itscomponents are normally enabled in the opened state but disabled in theclosed state. However, even when in the closed state a user orapplication triggered interrupt (such as in response to a phoneapplication or camera application operation) can flip the active screen,or disable the primary screen 104 and enable the secondary screen 108,by a suitable command. Each screen 104, 108 can be touch sensitive andcan include different operative areas. For example, a first operativearea, within each touch sensitive screen 104 and 108, may comprise atouch sensitive display 110, 114. In general, the touch sensitivedisplay 110, 114 may comprise a full color, touch sensitive display. Asecond area within each touch sensitive screen 104 and 108 may comprisea gesture capture region 120, 124. The gesture capture region 120, 124may comprise an area or region that is outside of the touch sensitivedisplay 110, 114 area, and that is capable of receiving input, forexample in the form of gestures provided by a user. However, the gesturecapture region 120, 124 does not include pixels that can perform adisplay function or capability.

A third region of the touch sensitive screens 104 and 108 may comprise aconfigurable area 112, 116. The configurable area 112, 116 is capable ofreceiving input and has display or limited display capabilities. Inembodiments, the configurable area 112, 116 may present different inputoptions to the user. For example, the configurable area 112, 116 maydisplay buttons or other relatable items. Moreover, the identity ofdisplayed buttons, or whether any buttons are displayed at all withinthe configurable area 112, 116 of a touch sensitive screen 104 or 108,may be determined from the context in which the device 100 is usedand/or operated. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch sensitive screens104 and 108 comprise liquid crystal display devices extending across atleast those regions of the touch sensitive screens 104 and 108 that arecapable of providing visual output to a user, and a capacitive inputmatrix over those regions of the touch sensitive screens 104 and 108that are capable of receiving input from the user.

One or more display controllers 216 a, 216 b may be provided forcontrolling the operation of the touch sensitive screens 104 and 108,including input (touch sensing) and output (display) functions. In theexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a separate touch screencontroller 216 a or 216 b is provided for each touch screen 104 and 108.In accordance with alternate embodiments, a common or shared touchscreen controller 216 may be used to control each of the included touchsensitive screens 104 and 108. In accordance with still otherembodiments, the functions of a touch screen controller 216 may beincorporated into other components, such as a processor 204.

The processor 204 may comprise a general purpose programmable processoror controller for executing application programming or instructions. Inaccordance with at least some embodiments, the processor 204 may includemultiple processor cores, and/or implement multiple virtual processors.In accordance with still other embodiments, the processor 204 mayinclude multiple physical processors. As a particular example, theprocessor 204 may comprise a specially configured application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or other integrated circuit, a digital signalprocessor, a controller, a hardwired electronic or logic circuit, aprogrammable logic device or gate array, a special purpose computer, orthe like. The processor 204 generally functions to run programming codeor instructions implementing various functions of the device 100.

A communication device 100 may also include memory 208 for use inconnection with the execution of application programming or instructionsby the processor 204, and for the temporary or long term storage ofprogram instructions and/or data. As examples, the memory 208 maycomprise RAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or other solid state memory. Alternatively orin addition, data storage 212 may be provided. Like the memory 208, thedata storage 212 may comprise a solid state memory device or devices.Alternatively or in addition, the data storage 212 may comprise a harddisk drive or other random access memory.

In support of communications functions or capabilities, the device 100can include a cellular telephony module 228. As examples, the cellulartelephony module 228 can comprise a GSM, CDMA, FDMA and/or analogcellular telephony transceiver capable of supporting voice, multimediaand/or data transfers over a cellular network. Alternatively or inaddition, the device 100 can include an additional or other wirelesscommunications module 232. As examples, the other wirelesscommunications module 232 can comprise a Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™, WiMax,infrared, or other wireless communications link. The cellular telephonymodule 228 and the other wireless communications module 232 can each beassociated with a shared or a dedicated antenna 224.

A port interface 252 may be included. The port interface 252 may includeproprietary or universal ports to support the interconnection of thedevice 100 to other devices or components, such as a dock, which may ormay not include additional or different capabilities from those integralto the device 100. In addition to supporting an exchange ofcommunication signals between the device 100 and another device orcomponent, the docking port 136 and/or port interface 252 can supportthe supply of power to or from the device 100. The port interface 252also comprises an intelligent element that comprises a docking modulefor controlling communications or other interactions between the device100 and a connected device or component.

An input/output module 248 and associated ports may be included tosupport communications over wired networks or links, for example withother communication devices, server devices, and/or peripheral devices.Examples of an input/output module 248 include an Ethernet port, aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) port, Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 1394, or other interface.

An audio input/output interface/device(s) 244 can be included to provideanalog audio to an interconnected speaker or other device, and toreceive analog audio input from a connected microphone or other device.As an example, the audio input/output interface/device(s) 244 maycomprise an associated amplifier and analog to digital converter.Alternatively or in addition, the device 100 can include an integratedaudio input/output device 256 and/or an audio jack for interconnectingan external speaker or microphone. For example, an integrated speakerand an integrated microphone can be provided, to support near talk orspeaker phone operations.

Hardware buttons 158 can be included for example for use in connectionwith certain control operations. Examples include a master power switch,volume control, etc., as described in conjunction with FIGS. 1A through1J. One or more image capture interfaces/devices 240, such as a camera,can be included for capturing still and/or video images. Alternativelyor in addition, an image capture interface/device 240 can include ascanner or code reader. An image capture interface/device 240 caninclude or be associated with additional elements, such as a flash orother light source.

The device 100 can also include a global positioning system (GPS)receiver 236. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention,the GPS receiver 236 may further comprise a GPS module that is capableof providing absolute location information to other components of thedevice 100. An accelerometer(s) 176 may also be included. For example,in connection with the display of information to a user and/or otherfunctions, a signal from the accelerometer 176 can be used to determinean orientation and/or format in which to display that information to theuser.

Embodiments of the present invention can also include one or moreposition sensor(s) 172. The position sensor 172 can provide a signalindicating the position of the touch sensitive screens 104 and 108relative to one another. This information can be provided as an input,for example to a user interface application, to determine an operatingmode, characteristics of the touch sensitive displays 110, 114, and/orother device 100 operations. As examples, a screen position sensor 172can comprise a series of Hall effect sensors, a multiple positionswitch, an optical switch, a Wheatstone bridge, a potentiometer, orother arrangement capable of providing a signal indicating of multiplerelative positions the touch screens are in.

Communications between various components of the device 100 can becarried by one or more buses 222. In addition, power can be supplied tothe components of the device 100 from a power source and/or powercontrol module 260. The power control module 260 can, for example,include a battery, an AC to DC converter, power control logic, and/orports for interconnecting the device 100 to an external source of power.

Device State:

FIGS. 3A and 3B represent illustrative states of device 100. While anumber of illustrative states are shown, and transitions from a firststate to a second state, it is to be appreciated that the illustrativestate diagram may not encompass all possible states and/or all possibletransitions from a first state to a second state. As illustrated in FIG.3, the various arrows between the states (illustrated by the staterepresented in the circle) represent a physical change that occurs tothe device 100, that is detected by one or more of hardware andsoftware, the detection triggering one or more of a hardware and/orsoftware interrupt that is used to control and/or manage one or morefunctions of device 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, there are twelve exemplary “physical” states:closed 304, transition 308 (or opening transitional state), easel 312,modified easel 316, open 320, inbound/outbound call or communication324, image/video capture 328, transition 332 (or closing transitionalstate), landscape 340, docked 336, docked 344 and landscape 348. Next toeach illustrative state is a representation of the physical state of thedevice 100 with the exception of states 324 and 328, where the state isgenerally symbolized by the international icon for a telephone and theicon for a camera, respectfully.

In state 304, the device is in a closed state with the device 100generally oriented in the portrait direction with the primary screen 104and the secondary screen 108 back-to-back in different planes (see FIG.1H). From the closed state, the device 100 can enter, for example,docked state 336, where the device 100 is coupled with a dockingstation, docking cable, or in general docked or associated with one ormore other devices or peripherals, or the landscape state 340, where thedevice 100 is generally oriented with the primary screen 104 facing theuser, and the primary screen 104 and the secondary screen 108 beingback-to-back.

In the closed state, the device can also move to a transitional statewhere the device remains closed but the display is moved from one screen104 to another screen 108 based on a user input, e.g., a double tap onthe screen 110, 114. Still another embodiment includes a bilateralstate. In the bilateral state, the device remains closed, but a singleapplication displays at least one window on both the first display 110and the second display 114. The windows shown on the first and seconddisplay 110, 114 may be the same or different based on the applicationand the state of that application. For example, while acquiring an imagewith a camera, the device may display the view finder on the firstdisplay 110 and displays a preview for the photo subjects (full screenand mirrored left-to-right) on the second display 114.

In state 308, a transition state from the closed state 304 to thesemi-open state or easel state 312, the device 100 is shown opening withthe primary screen 104 and the secondary screen 108 being rotated arounda point of axis coincidence with the hinge. Upon entering the easelstate 312, the primary screen 104 and the secondary screen 108 areseparated from one another such that, for example, the device 100 cansit in an easel-like configuration on a surface.

In state 316, known as the modified easel position, the device 100 hasthe primary screen 104 and the secondary screen 108 in a similarrelative relationship to one another as in the easel state 312, with thedifference being one of the primary screen 104 or the secondary screen108 are placed on a surface as shown.

State 320 is the open state where the primary screen 104 and thesecondary screen 108 are generally on the same plane. From the openstate, the device 100 can transition to the docked state 344 or the openlandscape state 348. In the open state 320, the primary screen 104 andthe secondary screen 108 are generally in the portrait-like orientationwhile in landscaped state 348 the primary screen 104 and the secondaryscreen 108 are generally in a landscape-like orientation.

State 324 is illustrative of a communication state, such as when aninbound or outbound call is being received or placed, respectively, bythe device 100. While not illustrated for clarity, it should beappreciated the device 100 can transition to the inbound/outbound callstate 324 from any state illustrated in FIG. 3. In a similar manner, theimage/video capture state 328 can be entered into from any other statein FIG. 3, with the image/video capture state 328 allowing the device100 to take one or more images via a camera and/or videos with a videocapture device 240.

Transition state 322 illustratively shows primary screen 104 and thesecondary screen 108 being closed upon one another for entry into, forexample, the closed state 304.

FIG. 3B illustrates, with reference to the key, the inputs that arereceived to detect a transition from a first state to a second state. InFIG. 3B, various combinations of states are shown with in general, aportion of the columns being directed toward a portrait state 352, alandscape state 356, and a portion of the rows being directed toportrait state 360 and landscape state 364.

In FIG. 3B, the Key indicates that “H” represents an input from one ormore Hall Effect sensors, “A” represents an input from one or moreaccelerometers, “T” represents an input from a timer, “P” represents acommunications trigger input and “I” represents an image and/or videocapture request input. Thus, in the center portion 376 of the chart, aninput, or combination of inputs, are shown that represent how the device100 detects a transition from a first physical state to a secondphysical state.

As discussed, in the center portion of the chart 376, the inputs thatare received enable the detection of a transition from, for example, aportrait open state to a landscape easel state—shown in bold—“HAT.” Forthis exemplary transition from the portrait open to the landscape easelstate, a Hall Effect sensor (“H”), an accelerometer (“A”) and a timer(“T”) input may be needed. The timer input can be derived from, forexample, a clock associated with the processor.

In addition to the portrait and landscape states, a docked state 368 isalso shown that is triggered based on the receipt of a docking signal372. As discussed above and in relation to FIG. 3, the docking signalcan be triggered by the association of the device 100 with one or moreother device 100s, accessories, peripherals, smart docks, or the like.

User Interaction:

FIGS. 4A through 4H depict various graphical representations of gestureinputs that may be recognized by the screens 104, 108. The gestures maybe performed not only by a user's body part, such as a digit, but alsoby other devices, such as a stylus, that may be sensed by the contactsensing portion(s) of a screen 104, 108. In general, gestures areinterpreted differently, based on where the gestures are performed(either directly on the display 110, 114 or in the gesture captureregion 120, 124). For example, gestures in the display 110,114 may bedirected to a desktop or application, and gestures in the gesturecapture region 120, 124 may be interpreted as for the system.

With reference to FIGS. 4A-4H, a first type of gesture, a touch gesture420, is substantially stationary on the screen 104,108 for a selectedlength of time. A circle 428 represents a touch or other contact typereceived at particular location of a contact sensing portion of thescreen. The circle 428 may include a border 432, the thickness of whichindicates a length of time that the contact is held substantiallystationary at the contact location. For instance, a tap 420 (or shortpress) has a thinner border 432 a than the border 432 b for a long press424 (or for a normal press). The long press 424 may involve a contactthat remains substantially stationary on the screen for longer timeperiod than that of a tap 420. As will be appreciated, differentlydefined gestures may be registered depending upon the length of timethat the touch remains stationary prior to contact cessation or movementon the screen.

With reference to FIG. 4C, a drag gesture 400 on the screen 104,108 isan initial contact (represented by circle 428) with contact movement 436in a selected direction. The initial contact 428 may remain stationaryon the screen 104,108 for a certain amount of time represented by theborder 432. The drag gesture typically requires the user to contact anicon, window, or other displayed image at a first location followed bymovement of the contact in a drag direction to a new second locationdesired for the selected displayed image. The contact movement need notbe in a straight line but have any path of movement so long as thecontact is substantially continuous from the first to the secondlocations.

With reference to FIG. 4D, a flick gesture 404 on the screen 104,108 isan initial contact (represented by circle 428) with truncated contactmovement 436 (relative to a drag gesture) in a selected direction. Inembodiments, a flick has a higher exit velocity for the last movement inthe gesture compared to the drag gesture. The flick gesture can, forinstance, be a finger snap following initial contact. Compared to a draggesture, a flick gesture generally does not require continual contactwith the screen 104,108 from the first location of a displayed image toa predetermined second location. The contacted displayed image is movedby the flick gesture in the direction of the flick gesture to thepredetermined second location. Although both gestures commonly can movea displayed image from a first location to a second location, thetemporal duration and distance of travel of the contact on the screen isgenerally less for a flick than for a drag gesture.

With reference to FIG. 4E, a pinch gesture 408 on the screen 104,108 isdepicted. The pinch gesture 408 may be initiated by a first contact 428to the screen 104,108 by, for example, a first digit and a secondcontact 428 b to the screen 104,108 by, for example, a second digit. Thefirst and second contacts 428 a,b may be detected by a common contactsensing portion of a common screen 104,108, by different contact sensingportions of a common screen 104 or108, or by different contact sensingportions of different screens. The first contact 428 a is held for afirst amount of time, as represented by the border 432 a, and the secondcontact 428 b is held for a second amount of time, as represented by theborder 432 b. The first and second amounts of time are generallysubstantially the same, and the first and second contacts 428 a, bgenerally occur substantially simultaneously. The first and secondcontacts 428 a, b generally also include corresponding first and secondcontact movements 436 a, b, respectively. The first and second contactmovements 436 a, b are generally in opposing directions. Stated anotherway, the first contact movement 436 a is towards the second contact 436b, and the second contact movement 436 b is towards the first contact436 a. More simply stated, the pinch gesture 408 may be accomplished bya user's digits touching the screen 104,108 in a pinching motion.

With reference to FIG. 4F, a spread gesture 410 on the screen 104,108 isdepicted. The spread gesture 410 may be initiated by a first contact 428a to the screen 104,108 by, for example, a first digit and a secondcontact 428 b to the screen 104,108 by, for example, a second digit. Thefirst and second contacts 428 a,b may be detected by a common contactsensing portion of a common screen 104,108, by different contact sensingportions of a common screen 104,108, or by different contact sensingportions of different screens. The first contact 428 a is held for afirst amount of time, as represented by the border 432 a, and the secondcontact 428 b is held for a second amount of time, as represented by theborder 432 b. The first and second amounts of time are generallysubstantially the same, and the first and second contacts 428 a, bgenerally occur substantially simultaneously. The first and secondcontacts 428 a, b generally also include corresponding first and secondcontact movements 436 a, b, respectively. The first and second contactmovements 436 a, b are generally in a common direction. Stated anotherway, the first and second contact movements 436 a, b are away from thefirst and second contacts 428 a, b. More simply stated, the spreadgesture 410 may be accomplished by a user's digits touching the screen104,108 in a spreading motion.

The above gestures may be combined in any manner, such as those shown byFIGS. 4G and 4H, to produce a determined functional result. For example,in FIG. 4G a tap gesture 420 is combined with a drag or flick gesture412 in a direction away from the tap gesture 420. In FIG. 4H, a tapgesture 420 is combined with a drag or flick gesture 412 in a directiontowards the tap gesture 420.

The functional result of receiving a gesture can vary depending on anumber of factors, including a state of the device 100, display 110,114, or screen 104, 108, a context associated with the gesture, orsensed location of the gesture. The state of the device commonly refersto one or more of a configuration of the device 100, a displayorientation, and user and other inputs received by the device 100.Context commonly refers to one or more of the particular application(s)selected by the gesture and the portion(s) of the application currentlyexecuting, whether the application is a single- or multi-screenapplication, and whether the application is a multi-screen applicationdisplaying one or more windows in one or more screens or in one or morestacks. Sensed location of the gesture commonly refers to whether thesensed set(s) of gesture location coordinates are on a touch sensitivedisplay 110, 114 or a gesture capture region 120, 124, whether thesensed set(s) of gesture location coordinates are associated with acommon or different display or screen 104,108, and/or what portion ofthe gesture capture region contains the sensed set(s) of gesturelocation coordinates.

A tap, when received by an a touch sensitive display 110, 114, can beused, for instance, to select an icon to initiate or terminate executionof a corresponding application, to maximize or minimize a window, toreorder windows in a stack, and to provide user input such as bykeyboard display or other displayed image. A drag, when received by atouch sensitive display 110, 114, can be used, for instance, to relocatean icon or window to a desired location within a display, to reorder astack on a display, or to span both displays (such that the selectedwindow occupies a portion of each display simultaneously). A flick, whenreceived by a touch sensitive display 110, 114 or a gesture captureregion 120, 124, can be used to relocate a window from a first displayto a second display or to span both displays (such that the selectedwindow occupies a portion of each display simultaneously). Unlike thedrag gesture, however, the flick gesture is generally not used to movethe displayed image to a specific user-selected location but to adefault location that is not configurable by the user.

The pinch gesture, when received by a touch sensitive display 110, 114or a gesture capture region 120, 124, can be used to minimize orotherwise increase the displayed area or size of a window (typicallywhen received entirely by a common display), to switch windows displayedat the top of the stack on each display to the top of the stack of theother display (typically when received by different displays orscreens), or to display an application manager (a “pop-up window” thatdisplays the windows in the stack). The spread gesture, when received bya touch sensitive display 110, 114 or a gesture capture region 120, 124,can be used to maximize or otherwise decrease the displayed area or sizeof a window, to switch windows displayed at the top of the stack on eachdisplay to the top of the stack of the other display (typically whenreceived by different displays or screens), or to display an applicationmanager (typically when received by an off-screen gesture capture regionon the same or different screens).

The combined gestures of FIG. 4G, when received by a common displaycapture region in a common display or screen 104,108, can be used tohold a first window stack location in a first stack constant for adisplay receiving the gesture while reordering a second window stacklocation in a second window stack to include a window in the displayreceiving the gesture. The combined gestures of FIG. 4H, when receivedby different display capture regions in a common display or screen104,108 or in different displays or screens, can be used to hold a firstwindow stack location in a first window stack constant for a displayreceiving the tap part of the gesture while reordering a second windowstack location in a second window stack to include a window in thedisplay receiving the flick or drag gesture. Although specific gesturesand gesture capture regions in the preceding examples have beenassociated with corresponding sets of functional results, it is to beappreciated that these associations can be redefined in any manner toproduce differing associations between gestures and/or gesture captureregions and/or functional results.

Firmware and Software:

The memory 508 may store and the processor 504 may execute one or moresoftware components. These components can include at least one operatingsystem (OS) 516, an application manager 562, a desktop 566, and/or oneor more applications 564 a and/or 564 b from an application store 560.The OS 516 can include a framework 520, one or more frame buffers 548,one or more drivers 512, previously described in conjunction with FIG.2, and/or a kernel 518. The OS 516 can be any software, consisting ofprograms and data, which manages computer hardware resources andprovides common services for the execution of various applications 564.The OS 516 can be any operating system and, at least in someembodiments, dedicated to mobile devices, including, but not limited to,Linux, ANDROID™, iPhone OS (IOS™), WINDOWS PHONE 7™, etc. The OS 516 isoperable to provide functionality to the phone by executing one or moreoperations, as described herein.

The applications 564 can be any higher level software that executesparticular functionality for the user. Applications 564 can includeprograms such as email clients, web browsers, texting applications,games, media players, office suites, etc. The applications 564 can bestored in an application store 560, which may represent any memory ordata storage, and the management software associated therewith, forstoring the applications 564. Once executed, the applications 564 may berun in a different area of memory 508.

The framework 520 may be any software or data that allows the multipletasks running on the device to interact. In embodiments, at leastportions of the framework 520 and the discrete components describedhereinafter may be considered part of the OS 516 or an application 564.However, these portions will be described as part of the framework 520,but those components are not so limited. The framework 520 can include,but is not limited to, a Multi-Display Management (MDM) module 524, aSurface Cache module 528, a Window Management module 532, an InputManagement module 536, a Task Management module 540, an ApplicationModel Manager 542, a Display Controller, one or more frame buffers 548,a task stack 552, one or more window stacks 550 (which is a logicalarrangement of windows and/or desktops in a display area), and/or anevent buffer 556.

The MDM module 524 includes one or more modules that are operable tomanage the display of applications or other data on the screens of thedevice. An embodiment of the MDM module 524 is described in conjunctionwith FIG. 5B. In embodiments, the MDM module 524 receives inputs fromthe other OS 516 components, such as, the drivers 512, and from theapplications 564 to determine continually the state of the device 100.The inputs assist the MDM module 524 in determining how to configure andallocate the displays according to the application's preferences andrequirements, and the user's actions. Once a determination for displayconfigurations is made, the MDM module 524 can bind the applications 564to a display. The configuration may then be provided to one or moreother components to generate a window with a display.

The Surface Cache module 528 includes any memory or storage and thesoftware associated therewith to store or cache one or more images ofwindows. A series of active and/or non-active windows (or other displayobjects, such as, a desktop display) can be associated with eachdisplay. An active window (or other display object) is currentlydisplayed. A non-active windows (or other display objects) were openedand, at some time, displayed but are now not displayed. To enhance theuser experience, before a window transitions from an active state to aninactive state, a “screen shot” of a last generated image of the window(or other display object) can be stored. The Surface Cache module 528may be operable to store a bitmap of the last active image of a window(or other display object) not currently displayed. Thus, the SurfaceCache module 528 stores the images of non-active windows (or otherdisplay objects) in a data store.

In embodiments, the Window Management module 532 is operable to managethe windows (or other display objects) that are active or not active oneach of the displays. The Window Management module 532, based oninformation from the MDM module 524, the OS 516, or other components,determines when a window (or other display object) is visible or notactive. The Window Management module 532 may then put a non-visiblewindow (or other display object) in a “not active state” and, inconjunction with the Task Management module Task Management 540 suspendsthe application's operation. Further, the Window Management module 532may assign, through collaborative interaction with the MDM module 524, adisplay identifier to the window (or other display object) or manage oneor more other items of data associated with the window (or other displayobject). The Window Management module 532 may also provide the storedinformation to the application 564, the Task Management module 540, orother components interacting with or associated with the window (orother display object). The Window Management module 532 can alsoassociate an input task with a window based on window focus and displaycoordinates within the motion space.

The Input Management module 536 is operable to manage events that occurwith the device. An event is any input into the window environment, forexample, a user interface interactions with a user. The Input Managementmodule 536 receives the events and logically stores the events in anevent buffer 556. Events can include such user interface interactions asa “down event,” which occurs when a screen 104, 108 receives a touchsignal from a user, a “move event,” which occurs when the screen 104,108 determines that a user's finger is moving across a screen(s), an “upevent, which occurs when the screen 104, 108 determines that the userhas stopped touching the screen 104, 108, etc. These events arereceived, stored, and forwarded to other modules by the Input Managementmodule 536. The Input Management module 536 may also map screen inputsto a motion space which is the culmination of all physical and virtualdisplay available on the device.

The motion space is a virtualized space that includes all touchsensitive displays 110,114 “tiled” together to mimic the physicaldimensions of the device 100. For example, when the device 100 isunfolded, the motion space size may be 960x800, which may be the numberof pixels in the combined display area for both touch sensitive displays110, 114. If a user touches on a first touch sensitive display 110 onlocation (40, 40), a full screen window can receive touch event withlocation (40, 40). If a user touches on a second touch sensitive display114, with location (40, 40), the full screen window can receive touchevent with location (520, 40), because the second touch sensitivedisplay 114 is on the right side of the first touch sensitive display110, so the device 100 can offset the touch by the first touch sensitivedisplay's 110 width, which is 480 pixels. When a hardware event occurswith location info from a driver 512, the framework 520 can up-scale thephysical location to the motion space because the location of the eventmay be different based on the device orientation and state. The motionspace may be as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/187,026, filed Jul. 20, 2011, entitled “Systems and Methods forReceiving Gesture Inputs Spanning Multiple Input Devices,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that it teachesand for all purposes.

A task can be an application and a sub-task can be an applicationcomponent that provides a window with which users can interact to dosomething, such as dial the phone, take a photo, send an email, or viewa map. Each task may be given a window in which to draw a userinterface. The window typically fills a display (for example, touchsensitive display 110,114), but may be smaller than the display 110,114and float on top of other windows. An application usually consists ofmultiple sub-tasks that are loosely bound to each other. Typically, onetask in an application is specified as the “main” task, which ispresented to the user when launching the application for the first time.Each task can then start another task or sub-task to perform differentactions.

The Task Management module 540 is operable to manage the operation ofone or more applications 564 that may be executed by the device. Thus,the Task Management module 540 can receive signals to launch, suspend,terminate, etc. an application or application sub-tasks stored in theapplication store 560. The Task Management module 540 may theninstantiate one or more tasks or sub-tasks of the application 564 tobegin operation of the application 564. Further, the Task ManagementModule 540 may launch, suspend, or terminate a task or sub-task as aresult of user input or as a result of a signal from a collaboratingframework 520 component. The Task Management Module 540 is responsiblefor managing the lifecycle of applications (tasks and sub-task) fromwhen the application is launched to when the application is terminated.

The processing of the Task Management Module 540 is facilitated by atask stack 552, which is a logical structure associated with the TaskManagement Module 540. The task stack 552 maintains the state of alltasks and sub-tasks on the device 100. When some component of theoperating system 516 requires a task or sub-task to transition in itslifecycle, the OS 516 component can notify the Task Management Module540. The Task Management Module 540 may then locate the task orsub-task, using identification information, in the task stack 552, andsend a signal to the task or sub-task indicating what kind of lifecycletransition the task needs to execute. Informing the task or sub-task ofthe transition allows the task or sub-task to prepare for the lifecyclestate transition. The Task Management Module 540 can then execute thestate transition for the task or sub-task. In embodiments, the statetransition may entail triggering the OS kernel 518 to terminate the taskwhen termination is required.

Further, the Task Management module 540 may suspend the application 564based on information from the Window Management Module 532. Suspendingthe application 564 may maintain application data in memory but maylimit or stop the application 564 from rendering a window or userinterface. Once the application becomes active again, the TaskManagement module 540 can again trigger the application to render itsuser interface. In embodiments, if a task is suspended, the task maysave the task's state in case the task is terminated. In the suspendedstate, the application task may not receive input because theapplication window is not visible to the user.

The frame buffer 548 is a logical structure(s) used to render the userinterface. The frame buffer 548 can be created and destroyed by the OSkernel 518. However, the Display Controller 544 can write the imagedata, for the visible windows, into the frame buffer 548. A frame buffer548 can be associated with one screen or multiple screens. Theassociation of a frame buffer 548 with a screen can be controlleddynamically by interaction with the OS kernel 518. A composite displaymay be created by associating multiple screens with a single framebuffer 548. Graphical data used to render an application's window userinterface may then be written to the single frame buffer 548, for thecomposite display, which is output to the multiple screens 104,108. TheDisplay Controller 544 can direct an application's user interface to aportion of the frame buffer 548 that is mapped to a particular display110,114, thus, displaying the user interface on only one screen 104 or108. The Display Controller 544 can extend the control over userinterfaces to multiple applications, controlling the user interfaces foras many displays as are associated with a frame buffer 548 or a portionthereof. This approach compensates for the multiple physical screens104,108 that are in use by the software component above the DisplayController 544.

The Application Manager 562 is an application that provides apresentation layer for the window environment. Thus, the ApplicationManager 562 provides the graphical model for rendering by the TaskManagement Module 540. Likewise, the Desktop 566 provides thepresentation layer for the Application Store 560. Thus, the desktopprovides a graphical model of a surface having selectable applicationicons for the Applications 564 in the Application Store 560 that can beprovided to the Window Management Module 556 for rendering.

Further, the framework can include an Application Model Manager (AMM)542. The Application Manager 562 may interface with the AMM 542. Inembodiments, the AMM 542 receives state change information from thedevice 100 regarding the state of applications (which are running orsuspended). The AMM 542 can associate bit map images from the SurfaceCache Module 528 to the tasks that are alive (running or suspended).Further, the AMM 542 can convert the logical window stack maintained inthe Task Manager Module 540 to a linear (“film strip” or “deck ofcards”) organization that the user perceives when the using the offgesture capture area 120 to sort through the windows. Further, the AMM542 may provide a list of executing applications to the ApplicationManager 562.

An embodiment of the MDM module 524 is shown in FIG. 5B. The MDM module524 is operable to determine the state of the environment for thedevice, including, but not limited to, the orientation of the device,whether the device 100 is opened or closed, what applications 564 areexecuting, how the applications 564 are to be displayed, what actionsthe user is conducting, the tasks being displayed, etc. To configure thedisplay, the MDM module 524 interprets these environmental factors anddetermines a display configuration, as described in conjunction withFIGS. 6A-6J. Then, the MDM module 524 can bind the applications 564 orother device components to the displays. The configuration may then besent to the Display Controller 544 and/or the other components withinthe OS 516 to generate the display. The MDM module 524 can include oneor more of, but is not limited to, a Display Configuration Module 568, aPreferences Module 572, a Device State Module 574, a Gesture Module 576,a Requirements Module 580, an Event Module 584, and/or a Binding Module588.

The Display Configuration Module 568 determines the layout for thedisplay. In embodiments, the Display Configuration Module 568 candetermine the environmental factors. The environmental factors may bereceived from one or more other MDM modules 524 or from other sources.The Display Configuration Module 568 can then determine from the list offactors the best configuration for the display. Some embodiments of thepossible configurations and the factors associated therewith aredescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 6A-6F.

The Preferences Module 572 is operable to determine display preferencesfor an application 564 or other component. For example, an applicationcan have a preference for Single or Dual displays. The PreferencesModule 572 can determine an application's display preference (e.g., byinspecting the application's preference settings) and may allow theapplication 564 to change to a mode (e.g., single screen, dual screen,max, etc.) if the device 100 is in a state that can accommodate thepreferred mode. However, some user interface policies may disallow amode even if the mode is available. As the configuration of the devicechanges, the preferences may be reviewed to determine if a betterdisplay configuration can be achieved for an application 564.

The Device State Module 574 is operable to determine or receive thestate of the device. The state of the device can be as described inconjunction with FIGS. 3A and 3B. The state of the device can be used bythe Display Configuration Module 568 to determine the configuration forthe display. As such, the Device State Module 574 may receive inputs andinterpret the state of the device. The state information is thenprovided to the Display Configuration Module 568.

The Gesture Module 576 is shown as part of the MDM module 524, but, inembodiments, the Gesture module 576 may be a separate Framework 520component that is separate from the MDM module 524. In embodiments, theGesture Module 576 is operable to determine if the user is conductingany actions on any part of the user interface. In alternativeembodiments, the Gesture Module 576 receives user interface actions fromthe configurable area 112,116 only. The Gesture Module 576 can receivetouch events that occur on the configurable area 112,116 (or possiblyother user interface areas) by way of the Input Management Module 536and may interpret the touch events (using direction, speed, distance,duration, and various other parameters) to determine what kind ofgesture the user is performing. When a gesture is interpreted, theGesture Module 576 can initiate the processing of the gesture and, bycollaborating with other Framework 520 components, can manage therequired window animation. The Gesture Module 576 collaborates with theApplication Model Manager 542 to collect state information with respectto which applications are running (active or paused) and the order inwhich applications must appear when a user gesture is performed. TheGesture Module 576 may also receive references to bitmaps (from theSurface Cache Module 528) and live windows so that when a gesture occursit can instruct the Display Controller 544 how to move the window(s)across the display 110,114. Thus, suspended applications may appear tobe running when those windows are moved across the display 110,114.

Further, the Gesture Module 576 can receive task information either fromthe Task Manage Module 540 or the Input Management module 536. Thegestures may be as defined in conjunction with FIGS. 4A through 4H. Forexample, moving a window causes the display to render a series ofdisplay frames that illustrate the window moving. The gesture associatedwith such user interface interaction can be received and interpreted bythe Gesture Module 576. The information about the user gesture is thensent to the Task Management Module 540 to modify the display binding ofthe task.

The Requirements Module 580, similar to the Preferences Module 572, isoperable to determine display requirements for an application 564 orother component. An application can have a set display requirement thatmust be observed. Some applications require a particular displayorientation. For example, the application “Angry Birds” can only bedisplayed in landscape orientation. This type of display requirement canbe determined or received, by the Requirements Module 580. As theorientation of the device changes, the Requirements Module 580 canreassert the display requirements for the application 564. The DisplayConfiguration Module 568 can generate a display configuration that is inaccordance with the application display requirements, as provided by theRequirements Module 580.

The Event Module 584, similar to the Gesture Module 576, is operable todetermine one or more events occurring with an application or othercomponent that can affect the user interface. Thus, the Event Module 584can receive event information either from the event buffer 556 or theTask Management module 540. These events can change how the tasks arebound to the displays. The Event Module 584 can collect state changeinformation from other Framework 520 components and act upon that statechange information. In an example, when the phone is opened or closed orwhen an orientation change has occurred, a new message may be renderedin a secondary screen. The state change based on the event can bereceived and interpreted by the Event Module 584. The information aboutthe events then may be sent to the Display Configuration Module 568 tomodify the configuration of the display.

The Binding Module 588 is operable to bind the applications 564 or theother components to the configuration determined by the DisplayConfiguration Module 568. A binding associates, in memory, the displayconfiguration for each application with the display and mode of theapplication. Thus, the Binding Module 588 can associate an applicationwith a display configuration for the application (e.g. landscape,portrait, multi-screen, etc.). Then, the Binding Module 588 may assign adisplay identifier to the display. The display identifier associated theapplication with a particular display of the device 100. This binding isthen stored and provided to the Display Controller 544, the othercomponents of the OS 516, or other components to properly render thedisplay. The binding is dynamic and can change or be updated based onconfiguration changes associated with events, gestures, state changes,application preferences or requirements, etc.

User Interface Configurations:

With reference now to FIGS. 6A-J, various types of output configurationsmade possible by the device 100 will be described hereinafter.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict two different output configurations of the device100 being in a first state. Specifically, FIG. 6A depicts the device 100being in a closed portrait state 304 where the data is displayed on theprimary screen 104. In this example, the device 100 displays data viathe touch sensitive display 110 in a first portrait configuration 604.As can be appreciated, the first portrait configuration 604 may onlydisplay a desktop or operating system home screen. Alternatively, one ormore windows may be presented in a portrait orientation while the device100 is displaying data in the first portrait configuration 604.

FIG. 6B depicts the device 100 still being in the closed portrait state304, but instead data is displayed on the secondary screen 108. In thisexample, the device 100 displays data via the touch sensitive display114 in a second portrait configuration 608.

It may be possible to display similar or different data in either thefirst or second portrait configuration 604, 608. It may also be possibleto transition between the first portrait configuration 604 and secondportrait configuration 608 by providing the device 100 a user gesture(e.g., a double tap gesture), a menu selection, or other means. Othersuitable gestures may also be employed to transition betweenconfigurations. Furthermore, it may also be possible to transition thedevice 100 from the first or second portrait configuration 604, 608 toany other configuration described herein depending upon which state thedevice 100 is moved.

An alternative output configuration may be accommodated by the device100 being in a second state. Specifically, FIG. 6C depicts a thirdportrait configuration where data is displayed simultaneously on boththe primary screen 104 and the secondary screen 108. The third portraitconfiguration may be referred to as a Dual-Portrait (PD) outputconfiguration. In the PD output configuration, the touch sensitivedisplay 110 of the primary screen 104 depicts data in the first portraitconfiguration 604 while the touch sensitive display 114 of the secondaryscreen 108 depicts data in the second portrait configuration 608. Thesimultaneous presentation of the first portrait configuration 604 andthe second portrait configuration 608 may occur when the device 100 isin an open portrait state 320. In this configuration, the device 100 maydisplay one application window in one display 110 or 114, twoapplication windows (one in each display 110 and 114), one applicationwindow and one desktop, or one desktop. Other configurations may bepossible. It should be appreciated that it may also be possible totransition the device 100 from the simultaneous display ofconfigurations 604, 608 to any other configuration described hereindepending upon which state the device 100 is moved. Furthermore, whilein this state, an application's display preference may place the deviceinto bilateral mode, in which both displays are active to displaydifferent windows in the same application. For example, a Cameraapplication may display a viewfinder and controls on one side, while theother side displays a mirrored preview that can be seen by the photosubjects. Games involving simultaneous play by two players may also takeadvantage of bilateral mode.

FIGS. 6D and 6E depicts two further output configurations of the device100 being in a third state. Specifically, FIG. 6D depicts the device 100being in a closed landscape state 340 where the data is displayed on theprimary screen 104. In this example, the device 100 displays data viathe touch sensitive display 110 in a first landscape configuration 612.Much like the other configurations described herein, the first landscapeconfiguration 612 may display a desktop, a home screen, one or morewindows displaying application data, or the like.

FIG. 6E depicts the device 100 still being in the closed landscape state340, but instead data is displayed on the secondary screen 108. In thisexample, the device 100 displays data via the touch sensitive display114 in a second landscape configuration 616. It may be possible todisplay similar or different data in either the first or second portraitconfiguration 612, 616. It may also be possible to transition betweenthe first landscape configuration 612 and second landscape configuration616 by providing the device 100 with one or both of a twist and tapgesture or a flip and slide gesture. Other suitable gestures may also beemployed to transition between configurations. Furthermore, it may alsobe possible to transition the device 100 from the first or secondlandscape configuration 612, 616 to any other configuration describedherein depending upon which state the device 100 is moved.

FIG. 6F depicts a third landscape configuration where data is displayedsimultaneously on both the primary screen 104 and the secondary screen108. The third landscape configuration may be referred to as aDual-Landscape (LD) output configuration. In the LD outputconfiguration, the touch sensitive display 110 of the primary screen 104depicts data in the first landscape configuration 612 while the touchsensitive display 114 of the secondary screen 108 depicts data in thesecond landscape configuration 616. The simultaneous presentation of thefirst landscape configuration 612 and the second landscape configuration616 may occur when the device 100 is in an open landscape state 340. Itshould be appreciated that it may also be possible to transition thedevice 100 from the simultaneous display of configurations 612, 616 toany other configuration described herein depending upon which state thedevice 100 is moved.

FIGS. 6G and 6H depict two views of a device 100 being in yet anotherstate. Specifically, the device 100 is depicted as being in an easelstate 312. FIG. 6G shows that a first easel output configuration 618 maybe displayed on the touch sensitive display 110. FIG. 6H shows that asecond easel output configuration 620 may be displayed on the touchsensitive display 114. The device 100 may be configured to depict eitherthe first easel output configuration 618 or the second easel outputconfiguration 620 individually. Alternatively, both the easel outputconfigurations 618, 620 may be presented simultaneously. In someembodiments, the easel output configurations 618, 620 may be similar oridentical to the landscape output configurations 612, 616. The device100 may also be configured to display one or both of the easel outputconfigurations 618, 620 while in a modified easel state 316. It shouldbe appreciated that simultaneous utilization of the easel outputconfigurations 618, 620 may facilitate two-person games (e.g.,Battleship®, chess, checkers, etc.), multi-user conferences where two ormore users share the same device 100, and other applications. As can beappreciated, it may also be possible to transition the device 100 fromthe display of one or both configurations 618, 620 to any otherconfiguration described herein depending upon which state the device 100is moved.

FIG. 6I depicts yet another output configuration that may beaccommodated while the device 100 is in an open portrait state 320.Specifically, the device 100 may be configured to present a singlecontinuous image across both touch sensitive displays 110, 114 in aportrait configuration referred to herein as a Portrait-Max (PMax)configuration 624. In this configuration, data (e.g., a single image,application, window, icon, video, etc.) may be split and displayedpartially on one of the touch sensitive displays while the other portionof the data is displayed on the other touch sensitive display. The Pmaxconfiguration 624 may facilitate a larger display and/or betterresolution for displaying a particular image on the device 100. Similarto other output configurations, it may be possible to transition thedevice 100 from the Pmax configuration 624 to any other outputconfiguration described herein depending upon which state the device 100is moved.

FIG. 6J depicts still another output configuration that may beaccommodated while the device 100 is in an open landscape state 348.Specifically, the device 100 may be configured to present a singlecontinuous image across both touch sensitive displays 110, 114 in alandscape configuration referred to herein as a Landscape-Max (LMax)configuration 628. In this configuration, data (e.g., a single image,application, window, icon, video, etc.) may be split and displayedpartially on one of the touch sensitive displays while the other portionof the data is displayed on the other touch sensitive display. The Lmaxconfiguration 628 may facilitate a larger display and/or betterresolution for displaying a particular image on the device 100. Similarto other output configurations, it may be possible to transition thedevice 100 from the Lmax configuration 628 to any other outputconfiguration described herein depending upon which state the device 100is moved.

The device 100 manages desktops and/or windows with at least one windowstack 700, 728, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. A window stack 700, 728 isa logical arrangement of active and/or inactive windows for amulti-screen device. For example, the window stack 700, 728 may belogically similar to a deck of cards, where one or more windows ordesktops are arranged in order, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. An activewindow is a window that is currently being displayed on at least one ofthe touch sensitive displays 110, 114. For example, windows 104 and 108are active windows and are displayed on touch sensitive displays 110 and114. An inactive window is a window that was opened and displayed but isnow “behind” an active window and not being displayed. In embodiments,an inactive window may be for an application that is suspended, andthus, the window is not displaying active content. For example, windows712, 716, 720, and 724 are inactive windows.

A window stack 700, 728 may have various arrangements or organizationalstructures. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, the device 100 includesa first stack 760 associated with a first touch sensitive display 110and a second stack associated with a second touch sensitive display 114.Thus, each touch sensitive display 110, 114 can have an associatedwindow stack 760, 764. These two window stacks 760, 764 may havedifferent numbers of windows arranged in the respective stacks 760, 764.Further, the two window stacks 760, 764 can also be identifieddifferently and managed separately. Thus, the first window stack 760 canbe arranged in order from a first window 704 to a next window 720 to alast window 724 and finally to a desktop 722, which, in embodiments, isat the “bottom” of the window stack 760. In embodiments, the desktop 722is not always at the “bottom” as application windows can be arranged inthe window stack below the desktop 722, and the desktop 722 can bebrought to the “top” of a stack over other windows during a desktopreveal. Likewise, the second stack 764 can be arranged from a firstwindow 708 to a next window 712 to a last window 716, and finally to adesktop 718, which, in embodiments, is a single desktop area, withdesktop 722, under all the windows in both window stack 760 and windowstack 764. A logical data structure for managing the two window stacks760, 764 may be as described in conjunction with FIG. 8.

Another arrangement for a window stack 728 is shown in FIG. 7B. In thisembodiment, there is a single window stack 728 for both touch sensitivedisplays 110, 114. Thus, the window stack 728 is arranged from a desktop758 to a first window 744 to a last window 756. A window can be arrangedin a position among all windows without an association to a specifictouch sensitive display 110, 114. In this embodiment, a window is in theorder of windows. Further, at least one window is identified as beingactive. For example, a single window may be rendered in two portions 732and 736 that are displayed on the first touch sensitive screen 110 andthe second touch sensitive screen 114. The single window may only occupya single position in the window stack 728 although it is displayed onboth displays 110, 114.

Yet another arrangement of a window stack 760 is shown in FIGS. 7Cthrough 7E. The window stack 760 is shown in three “elevation” views. InFIG. 7C, the top of the window stack 760 is shown. Two sides of thewindow stack 760 are shown in FIGS. 7D and 7E. In this embodiment, thewindow stack 760 resembles a stack of bricks. The windows are stacked oneach other. Looking from the top of the window stack 760 in Fig, 7C,only the top most windows in the window stack 760 are seen in differentportions of the composite display 764. The composite display 764represents a logical model for the entire display area of the device100, which can include touch sensitive display 110 and touch sensitivedisplay 114. A desktop 786 or a window can occupy part or all of thecomposite display 764.

In the embodiment shown, the desktop 786 is the lowest display or“brick” in the window stack 760. Thereupon, window 1 782, window 2 782,window 3 768, and window 4 770 are layered. Window 1 782, window 3 768,window 2 782, and window 4 770 only occupy a portion of the compositedisplay 764. Thus, another part of the stack 760 includes window 8 774and windows 5 through 7 shown in section 790. Only the top window in anyportion of the composite display 764 is actually rendered and displayed.Thus, as shown in the top view in FIG. 7C, window 4 770, window 8 774,and window 3 768 are displayed as being at the top of the display indifferent portions of the window stack 760. A window can be dimensionedto occupy only a portion of the composite display 760 to “reveal”windows lower in the window stack 760. For example, window 3 768 islower in the stack than both window 4 770 and window 8 774 but is stilldisplayed. A logical data structure to manage the window stack can be asdescribed in conjunction with FIG. 8.

When a new window is opened, the newly activated window is generallypositioned at the top of the stack. However, where and how the window ispositioned within the stack can be a function of the orientation of thedevice 100, the context of what programs, functions, software, etc. arebeing executed on the device 100, how the stack is positioned when thenew window is opened, etc. To insert the window in the stack, theposition in the stack for the window is determined and the touchsensitive display 110, 114 to which the window is associated may also bedetermined. With this information, a logical data structure for thewindow can be created and stored. When user interface or other events ortasks change the arrangement of windows, the window stack(s) can bechanged to reflect the change in arrangement. It should be noted thatthese same concepts described above can be used to manage the one ormore desktops for the device 100.

A logical data structure 800 for managing the arrangement of windows ordesktops in a window stack is shown in FIG. 8. The logical datastructure 800 can be any data structure used to store data whether anobject, record, file, etc. The logical data structure 800 can be storedin any type of database or data storage system, regardless of protocolor standard. In embodiments, the logical data structure 800 includes oneor more portions, fields, attributes, etc. that store data in a logicalarrangement that allows for easy storage and retrieval of theinformation. Hereinafter, these one or more portions, fields,attributes, etc. shall be described simply as fields. The fields canstore data for a window identifier 804, dimensions 808, a stack positionidentifier 812, a display identifier 816, and/or an active indicator820. Each window in a window stack can have an associated logical datastructure 800. While only a single logical data structure 800 is shownin FIG. 8, there may be more or fewer logical data structures 800 usedwith a window stack (based on the number of windows or desktops in thestack), as represented by ellipses 824. Further, there may be more orfewer fields than those shown in FIG. 8, as represented by ellipses 828.

A window identifier 804 can include any identifier (ID) that uniquelyidentifies the associated window in relation to other windows in thewindow stack. The window identifier 804 can be a globally uniqueidentifier (GUID), a numeric ID, an alphanumeric ID, or other type ofidentifier. In embodiments, the window identifier 804 can be one, two,or any number of digits based on the number of windows that can beopened. In alternative embodiments, the size of the window identifier804 may change based on the number of windows opened. While the windowis open, the window identifier 804 may be static and remain unchanged.

Dimensions 808 can include dimensions for a window in the compositedisplay 760. For example, the dimensions 808 can include coordinates fortwo or more corners of the window or may include one coordinate anddimensions for the width and height of the window. These dimensions 808can delineate what portion of the composite display 760 the window mayoccupy, which may the entire composite display 760 or only part ofcomposite display 760. For example, window 4 770 may have dimensions 880that indicate that the window 770 will occupy only part of the displayarea for composite display 760, as shown in FIGS. 7 c through 7E. Aswindows are moved or inserted in the window stack, the dimensions 808may change.

A stack position identifier 812 can be any identifier that can identifythe position in the stack for the window or may be inferred from thewindow's control record within a data structure, such as a list or astack. The stack position identifier 812 can be a GUID, a numeric ID, analphanumeric ID, or other type of identifier. Each window or desktop caninclude a stack position identifier 812. For example, as shown in FIG.7A, window 1 704 in stack 1 760 can have a stack position identifier 812of 1 identifying that window 704 is the first window in the stack 760and the active window. Similarly, window 6 724 can have a stack positionidentifier 812 of 3 representing that window 724 is the third window inthe stack 760. Window 2 708 can also have a stack position identifier812 of 1 representing that window 708 is the first window in the secondstack 764. As shown in FIG. 7B, window 1 744 can have a stack positionidentifier 812 of 1, window 3, rendered in portions 732 and 736, canhave a stack position identifier 812 of 3, and window 6 756 can have astack position identifier 812 of 6. Thus, depending on the type ofstack, the stack position identifier 812 can represent a window'slocation in the stack.

A display identifier 816 can identify that the window or desktop isassociated with a particular display, such as the first display 110 orthe second display 114, or the composite display 760 composed of bothdisplays. While this display identifier 816 may not be needed for amulti-stack system, as shown in FIG. 7A, the display identifier 816 canindicate whether a window in the serial stack of FIG. 7B is displayed ona particular display. Thus, window 3 may have two portions 732 and 736in FIG. 7B. The first portion 732 may have a display identifier 816 forthe first display while the second portion 736 may have a displayidentifier 816 for the second display 114. However, in alternativeembodiments, the window may have two display identifier 816 thatrepresent that the window is displayed on both of the displays 110, 114,or a display identifier 816 identifying the composite display. Inanother alternate embodiment, the window may have a single displayidentifier 816 to represent that the window is displayed on both of thedisplays 110, 114.

Similar to the display identifier 816, an active indicator 820 may notbe needed with the dual stack system of FIG. 7A, as the window in stackposition 1 is active and displayed. In the system of FIG. 7B, the activeindicator 820 can indicate which window(s) in the stack is beingdisplayed. Thus, window 3 may have two portions 732 and 736 in FIG. 7.The first portion 732 may have an active indicator 820 while the secondportion 736 may also have an active indicator 820. However, inalternative embodiments, window 3 may have a single active indicator820. The active indicator 820 can be a simple flag or bit thatrepresents that the window is active or displayed.

An embodiment of a method 900 for creating a window stack is shown inFIG. 9. While a general order for the steps of the method 900 is shownin FIG. 9. Generally, the method 900 starts with a start operation 904and ends with an end operation 928. The method 900 can include more orfewer steps or can arrange the order of the steps differently than thoseshown in FIG. 9. The method 900 can be executed as a set ofcomputer-executable instructions executed by a computer system andencoded or stored on a computer readable medium. Hereinafter, the method900 shall be explained with reference to the systems, components,modules, software, data structures, user interfaces, etc. described inconjunction with FIGS. 1-8.

A multi-screen device 100 can receive activation of a window, in step908. In embodiments, the multi-screen device 100 can receive activationof a window by receiving an input from the touch sensitive display 110or 114, the configurable area 112 or 116, a gesture capture region 120or 124, or some other hardware sensor operable to receive user interfaceinputs. The processor may execute the Task Management Module 540 mayreceive the input. The Task Management Module 540 can interpret theinput as requesting an application task to be executed that will open awindow in the window stack.

In embodiments, the Task Management Module 540 places the user interfaceinteraction in the task stack 552 to be acted upon by the DisplayConfiguration Module 568 of the Multi-Display Management Module 524.Further, the Task Management Module 540 waits for information from theMulti-Display Management Module 524 to send instructions to the WindowManagement Module 532 to create the window in the window stack.

The Multi-Display Management Module 524, upon receiving instruction fromthe Task Management Module 540, determines to which touch portion of thecomposite display 760, the newly activated window should be associated,in step 912. For example, window 4 770 is associated with the a portionof the composite display 764 In embodiments, the device state module 574of the Multi-Display Management Module 524 may determine how the deviceis oriented or in what state the device is in, e.g., open, closed,portrait, etc. Further, the preferences module 572 and/or requirementsmodule 580 may determine how the window is to be displayed. The gesturemodule 576 may determine the user's intentions about how the window isto be opened based on the type of gesture and the location of where thegesture is made.

The Display Configuration Module 568 may use the input from thesemodules and evaluate the current window stack 760 to determine the bestplace and the best dimensions, based on a visibility algorithm, to openthe window. Thus, the Display Configuration Module 568 determines thebest place to put the window at the top of the window stack 760, in step916. The visibility algorithm, in embodiments, determines for allportions of the composite display, which windows are at the top of thestack. For example, the visibility algorithm determines that window 3768, window 4 770, and window 8 774 are at the top of the stack 760 asviewed in FIGS. 7C through 7E. Upon determining where to open thewindow, the Display Configuration Module 568 can assign a displayidentifier 816 and possibly dimensions 808 to the window. The displayidentifier 816 and dimensions 808 can then be sent back to the TaskManagement Module 540. The Task Management Module 540 may then assignthe window a stack position identifier 812 indicating the windowsposition at the top of the window stack.

In embodiments, the Task Management Module 540 sends the window stackinformation and instructions to render the window to the WindowManagement Module 532. The Window Management Module 532 and the TaskManagement Module 540 can create the logical data structure 800, in step924. Both the Task Management Module 540 and the Window ManagementModule 532 may create and manage copies of the window stack. Thesecopies of the window stack can be synchronized or kept similar throughcommunications between the Window Management Module 532 and the TaskManagement Module 540. Thus, the Window Management Module 532 and theTask Management Module 540, based on the information determined by theMulti-Display Management Module 524, can assign dimensions 808, a stackposition identifier 812 (e.g., window 1 782, window 4 770, etc.), adisplay identifier 816 (e.g., touch sensitive display 1 110, touchsensitive display 2 114, composite display identifier, etc,), and anactive indicator 820, which is generally always set when the window isat the “top” of the stack. The logical data structure 800 may then bestored by both the Window Management Module 532 and the Task ManagementModule 540. Further, the Window Management Module 532 and the TaskManagement Module 540may thereinafter manage the window stack and thelogical data structure(s) 800.

FIGS. 10A-E depict graphical representations of embodiments of a device100 in an open portrait state where the primary screen or display 104 ina first portrait configuration 604 is shown surrounded by a solid line,while the secondary screen or display 108 is in a second portraitconfiguration 608 and is also visible as indicated by a solid line.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the primary screen 104 shows a first page 1004running a first single page application A1, and the secondary display108 shows another page 1006 running a second desk top D2. FIG. 10A alsoillustrates a visual indicator 1002 indicating to the user that theapplication or a desk top running on the screen in which the visualindicator is displayed allows the user to minimize or maximize thatapplication/desktop. Accordingly, in FIG. 10A, the indicator 1002signifies that a user can maximize the application A1 in its currentminimized state. The indicator 1002 is shown as having a wave shape thatextends across the upper portion of the screen 104; however, it shall beunderstood that other graphical representations can be provided for theindicator 1002 such as an icon or another type of visual indicatorlocated on other parts of the screen. The visual indicator 1002 can bepresented within an annunciator window 1003, or can be presented withouta separate window and directly on the running application/desktop,preferably in the manner shown at the top of the screens so as to notinterfere substantially with the applications/desktops. The annunciatorwindow 1003 can also display other features of the device to includenotifications (such as incoming calls, emails, or text messages) (notshown). The annunciator window 1003 could also display statusinformation such as whether the device has a 3G or 4G connection, thedate, time, battery charge level, wireless signal strength, and otherstatus information (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 10B, this figure illustrates a user executing agesture 1008, such as a tap or long hold gesture on the visual indicator1002. In response to the gesture 1008, the application A1 is maximizedfor viewing on both the first and second screens. FIG. 10B illustratesthe application A1 in a moving state as it expands onto the secondaryscreen 108. Although FIG. 10B may illustrate a gradual or incrementalmaximizing of the application A1, it shall be understood that FIG. 10Bmay also represent that once the use executes the gesture 1008, theselected application/desk top will be instantaneously shown on both ofthe screens.

Referring to FIG. 10C, this Figure shows the application A1 as it nowfully occupies both the primary and secondary screens. The visualindicator 1002 therefore also expands across both the primary andsecondary screens, indicating that the user can now minimize thisapplication by again executing another gesture.

Referring to FIG. 10D, this figure illustrates the user executinganother gesture 1008 on the secondary screen 108, which thereforeminimizes the application A1 onto the secondary screen 108. Again, FIG.10D illustrates a gradual or incremental movement of the application A1,however, it shall again be understood that FIG. 10D is only a graphicalrepresentation of the minimization, and thus the minimization couldoccur nearly simultaneously as viewed by the user.

Referring to FIG. 10E, in yet another embodiment of the invention, theapplication Al is shown as minimized on the secondary screen 108, whilethe primary screen 104 now shows a new page 1010 running an applicationA2. In this example, the minimization of the application A1 results inrearranging the window stacks for the primary and secondary screens.Therefore, by the user executing the gesture 1008 on the secondaryscreen to minimize application A1, a next application/desktop in thewindow stack for the primary screen 104 is displayed, namely theapplication A2. The application A1 is now also moved to the topapplication in a window stack of the secondary screen, assuming thesecondary screen has its own window stack. Alternatively, if there isbut a single window stack for both screens, then the page 1004 runningthe application A1 appearing on the secondary screen 108 can alsorepresent rearrangement of the single window stack in which page 1004 isnow the first or top application to occupy the secondary screen and thepage 1010 running the application A2 is now the first or top applicationoccupying the primary screen. The page 1006 running the application D2is placed one level below the application A1 in the window stack, orcould be placed at any other location in the window stack depending uponthe particular window stack protocol being employed at the time. Yetfurther in the alternative, the minimization of the application A1 ontothe secondary screen could result in no rearrangement of any windowstack, and the primary screen 104 could be blank with no displayedapplication/desktop, or the primary screen could display a predeterminedefault application/desktop.

If the user desired to maximize application A1 again, the user couldsimply execute yet another gesture 1008 on the secondary screen 108,which would cause the application A1 to be displayed on both the primaryand secondary screens such as shown in FIG. 10C.

Although FIGS. 10A-10E are presented in the open portrait state, itshall be understood that the features disclosed in these figures canalso be incorporated in other modes of operation of the device 100 toinclude a landscape state or any of the other “physical” statesdisclosed herein.

Based on the description of the Figures, it is evident that the displayof windows in a window stack can be selectively changed by simplegesture interactions thereby making multiple desktops and runningapplications available to the user with minimum effort. Each screen hasa logical representation of the windows that have been opened anddisplayed on the screens. The logical representation is the stack thatis made up of one or more windows arranged in an order that can beselected and changed by the user. The windows can be indexed or shiftedto display desire windows, as well as to move windows between separatestacks. The ordered arrangement of a stack maintains the logicalconstruction of the stack intact when the user navigates the windowstack, for example in an off-screen area. As shown specifically in theFIGS. 10A-10E, a user may easily manipulate the display of selectedrunning applications or desktops by minimizing and maximizing them. Theuser may also reveal at least the next desktop or application in a stackif the user moves an application/desktop to another screen.

The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have been describedin relation to various preferred embodiments. However, to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the precedingdescription omits a number of known structures and devices. Thisomission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scopes of theclaims. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding ofthe present disclosure. It should however be appreciated that thepresent disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond thespecific detail set forth herein.

Furthermore, while the exemplary aspects, embodiments, and/orconfigurations illustrated herein show the various components of thesystem collocated, certain components of the system can be locatedremotely, at distant portions of a distributed network, such as a LANand/or the Internet, or within a dedicated system. Thus, it should beappreciated, that the components of the system can be combined in to oneor more devices, or collocated on a particular node of a distributednetwork, such as an analog and/or digital telecommunications network, apacket-switch network, or a circuit-switched network. It will beappreciated from the preceding description, and for reasons ofcomputational efficiency, that the components of the system can bearranged at any location within a distributed network of componentswithout affecting the operation of the system. For example, the variouscomponents can be located in a switch such as a PBX and media server,gateway, in one or more communications devices, at one or more users'premises, or some combination thereof. Similarly, one or more functionalportions of the system could be distributed between a telecommunicationsdevice(s) and an associated computing device.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connectingthe elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof,or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable ofsupplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements.These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may becapable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media usedas links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electricalsignals, including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, and maytake the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated duringradio-wave and infra-red data communications.

Also, while the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated inrelation to a particular sequence of events, it should be appreciatedthat changes, additions, and omissions to this sequence can occurwithout materially affecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments,configuration, and aspects.

A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used.It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosurewithout providing others.

In yet another embodiment, the systems and methods of this disclosurecan be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, aprogrammed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integratedcircuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digitalsignal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such asdiscrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array suchas PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means,or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementingthe methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the variousaspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can be used for thedisclosed embodiments, configurations and aspects includes computers,handheld devices, telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital,analog, hybrids, and others), and other hardware known in the art. Someof these devices include processors (e.g., a single or multiplemicroprocessors), memory, nonvolatile storage, input devices, and outputdevices. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including,but not limited to, distributed processing or component/objectdistributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machineprocessing can also be constructed to implement the methods describedherein.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readilyimplemented in conjunction with software using object or object-orientedsoftware development environments that provide portable source code thatcan be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms.Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially orfully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whethersoftware or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance withthis disclosure is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirementsof the system, the particular function, and the particular software orhardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems beingutilized.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partiallyimplemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executedon programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of acontroller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, orthe like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this disclosurecan be implemented as program embedded on personal computer such as anapplet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server orcomputer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurementsystem, system component, or the like. The system can also beimplemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into asoftware and/or hardware system.

Although the present disclosure describes components and functionsimplemented in the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations withreference to particular standards and protocols, the aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations are not limited to such standards andprotocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned hereinare in existence and are considered to be included in the presentdisclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein andother similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein areperiodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents included in thepresent disclosure.

The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/orconfigurations, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/orapparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, includingvarious aspects, embodiments, configurations embodiments,subcombinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art willunderstand how to make and use the disclosed aspects, embodiments,and/or configurations after understanding the present disclosure. Thepresent disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/orconfigurations, includes providing devices and processes in the absenceof items not depicted and/or described herein or in various aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations hereof, including in the absence ofsuch items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g.,for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost ofimplementation.

The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosureto the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing DetailedDescription for example, various features of the disclosure are groupedtogether in one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure may be combined inalternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than thosediscussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claims require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a singleforegoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodimentof the disclosure.

Moreover, though the description has included description of one or moreaspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain variations andmodifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications arewithin the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill andknowledge of those in the art, after understanding the presentdisclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternativeaspects, embodiments, and/or configurations to the extent permitted,including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures,functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not suchalternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

1. A method of displaying a plurality of desktops and/or applications,each having at least one window, on a multi-screen device, comprising:receiving, by a processor, a first input that represents an instructionto reveal one of a desktop or application on a first display of themulti-screen device; selecting, by a processor, a first desktop orapplication to display on the first display; receiving, by a processor,a second input that represents an instruction to reveal one of a desktopor application on a second display of the multi-screen device;selecting, by a processor, a second desktop or application to display onthe second display; displaying, by a processor, the selected first andsecond desktops or applications on the first and second displays;receiving, by a processor, a third input that represents an instructionto maximize or minimize a selected one of the first or second desktopsor applications; displaying, by a processor, the selected one of thefirst or second desktops or applications in a maximized or minimizedcondition
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first,second, and third inputs is achieved by at least a user input gesture.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third input is a user gesturecomprising at least one of a tap or long hold gesture.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second displays has avisual indicator displayed thereon and signifying that a desktop orapplication appearing on that display can be maximized or minimized by auser gesture.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator hasa wave shape.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the third input is aninstruction to maximize a selected one of the first or second desktopsor applications, resulting in the selected one being displayed on bothof the first and second displays.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thethird input is an instruction to minimize a selected one of the first orsecond desktops or applications, resulting in the selected one beingdisplayed only on either the first and second displays.
 8. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereoninstructions that cause a computing system to execute a method, theinstructions comprising: instructions configured to receive a firstpredetermined input that represents an instruction to determine andreveal a first desktop or application on a first display of themulti-screen device; instructions configured to receive a secondpredetermined input that represents an instruction to determine andreveal a second desktop or application on a second display of themulti-screen device; instructions configured to respond to the first andsecond predetermined inputs with outputs that cause the first desktop orapplication to be displayed on the first display and cause the seconddesktop or application to be displayed on the second display;instructions configured to receive a third predetermined input thatrepresents an instruction to maximize or minimize a selected one of thefirst or second desktops or applications; and instructions configured torespond to the third predetermined input that causes displaying of theselected one of the first or second desktops or applications in amaximized or minimized condition.
 9. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 8, wherein at least one of the first or second displays has avisual indicator displayed thereon and signifying that a desktop orapplication appearing on that display can be maximized or minimized by auser gesture according to the instructions configured to receive a thirdpredetermined input.
 10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 whereinthe third predetermined input is an instruction to maximize a selectedone of the first or second desktops or applications, resulting in theselected one being displayed on both of the first and second displaysaccording to the instructions configured to respond to the thirdpredetermined input.
 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 whereinthe third predetermined input is an instruction to minimize a selectedone of the first or second desktops or applications, resulting in theselected one being displayed only on either the first and seconddisplays according to the instructions configured to respond to thethird predetermined input.
 12. A multi-screen user device, comprising: afirst display including a first display area; a second display includinga second display area; a first user input gesture area of the firstdisplay; a second user input gesture area of the second display, whereinthe first and second user input gesture areas are configured to acceptinput from a user; a computer-readable medium having instructions storedthereon that include: a first set of instructions configured todetermine a number and identity of desktops or applications selected tobe run by a user; a second set of instructions configured to determine,based on the number and identity of the desktops or applicationsrunning, a window stack comprising a logical representation of thedesktops and applications within an ordered group whereby a user canselectively move a selected desktop or application within the windowstack and to be displayed in either the first or second displays; athird set of instructions responsive to a gesture made by the user tomaximize or minimize a selected one of the first or second desktops orapplications; and wherein the selected one of the first or seconddesktops or applications is displayed in a maximized or minimizedcondition.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the firstor second displays has a visual indicator displayed thereon andsignifying that a desktop or application appearing on that display canbe maximized or minimized by a user gesture.
 14. The device of claim 13,wherein the visual indicator has a wave shape.
 15. The device of claim12, wherein the third set of instructions are instructions to maximize aselected one of the first or second desktops or applications, resultingin the selected one being displayed on both of the first and seconddisplays.
 16. The device of claim 12, wherein the third set ofinstructions are instructions to minimize a selected one of the first orsecond desktops or applications, resulting in the selected one beingdisplayed only on either the first and second displays.
 17. The deviceof clam 13, wherein the visual indicator appears on the applications ordesktops running on both the first and second displays so that gesturesmade by the user to maximize or minimize a selected one of the first orsecond desktops or applications enables a user to maximize and minimizethe applications or desktops appearing on both the first and seconddisplays sequentially and repeatedly.